msn bing translator で和文英訳をしてみました。
機械はスラチャイよりはるかに素早く翻訳できますが、意味不明の部分が多いですね。
意味がわかるように訂正しておきました＾＾。
原文（和文）：
私の父は、私が高校生の頃にがんで亡くなりました。告知はしなかったのですが、何か感じるものがあったのでしょう。入院先で急に「書斎が欲しい。
庭を埋めて増築したい」と言い出しました。そして、母も知らなかった通帳を差し出し、「これで建ててくれ」と言ったのです。
母は相当びっくりしたでしょう。今後の生活のことも考えたでしょう。
でもここが母のすごいところ。「分かりました」と言うとすぐに準備にかかり、１か月ほどで書斎を建ててしまったのです。
完成した書斎は、ほぼ本棚。壁３面が天井から床まで埋め込み式の本棚になっていて、本好きな父の大量の蔵書がすっぽり収まっていました。
父は、その“理想の書斎”にたった一度しか足を踏み入れることはありませんでしたが、多分満足し、そして母に感謝したと思います。
翻訳文（英文）： (msn bing tranlator翻訳＋文章校正 by srachai)
My father died of cancer when I was a high school student.
Although we did not notify of his cancer but he felt something bad at that time.
All of a sudden, he told us that he wants to have his study.
The garden of our house should be filled with soil and his study should be made on the place.
And then he gave us a passbook of his bank, asking us to build his study.
My mother might be quite astonished at that time.
She might think about our future life, which is coming soon.
Surprisingly enough, my mother made preparation for constructing his study, and indeed, she did it in a month to make his husband’s dream come true.
His study was mainly composed of bookshelves.
Three sides of the wall of his study are covered with bookshelves from floor to ceiling, being spacious enough to keep his tremendous amount of books.
Although my father could manage to get into his study only once before his passing away, we understood that he was very happy, feeling gratitude for his wife.
2011/01/20
ＪＡＬ破綻１年 再建はこれからが正念場だ
JALがなくなっても世の中は動く！
これも時代の流れ、競争力のない航空会社は縮小、消滅させられる。
TGやSQのほうが良い＾＾。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 20, 2011)
Real battle for JAL starts now, one year on
ＪＡＬ破綻１年 再建はこれからが正念場だ（1月19日付・読売社説）
Wednesday marks the passage of one year since Japan Airlines filed for court-administered bankruptcy protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
日本航空が会社更生法の適用を申請し、経営破綻してから、１９日で１年を迎える。
During that time, JAL has striven to streamline its operations through various measures, including reducing the number of its flight routes and employees. The airline is facing a crucial juncture as it seeks to become a listed corporation again at the end of 2012.
この間、路線や人員の削減などリストラを進めてきたが、２０１２年末の株式再上場を目指す再建策は、これからが正念場だ。
Given the massive amount of taxpayers' money used to implement its bailout plan, JAL will no longer be allowed to operate in a laid-back manner, as it did in the past.
巨額の公的資金が投じられており、甘い経営体質の温存は、もはや許されない。
The airline must grow out of its old tendency to rely on the government and politicians whenever it faces a crisis. This is its last chance, one JAL should not miss as it seeks to transform itself into a corporation that can best serve customers' interests.
危機のたびに行政や政治に頼る「親方日の丸」意識を捨て、今度こそ顧客本位の会社に生まれ変わる必要がある。
JAL's rehabilitation plan went into full swing in late November, when the Tokyo District Court gave the go-ahead to the scheme.
昨年１１月末、東京地裁が更生計画を認め、再建が本格化した。
The airline was given a 350 billion yen injection of public funds from the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan (ETIC). It also received a 520 billion yen debt waiver from its major creditor banks.
企業再生支援機構から公的資金３５００億円の出資を受け、取引銀行には５２００億円の借金を棒引きしてもらった。
These measures must be viewed as exceptionally generous assistance that would be unthinkable for ordinary failed corporations. If the bailout plan does not come off, it means the public will have to shoulder a new financial burden. JAL's executives and employees must take this to heart.
通常の破綻企業では考えられない破格の支援であり、再建が頓挫すれば、国民負担も生じる。経営陣や社員は、何よりもまずそのことを肝に銘じるべきである。
Bringing costs down to earth
A certain measure of progress is being made in rectifying the high-cost structure of JAL's operations, a primary task to be tackled in the company's rehabilitation.
最大の課題だった高コスト体質は改善の方向にある。
The airline has taken such steps as withdrawing from 45 domestic and international routes and cutting personnel by about 16,000. All this has brought JAL's operations down to two-thirds of their previous scale.
国内外４５路線からの撤退や１万６０００人の人員削減などで規模は３分の２に縮小した。
The airline's streamlining efforts helped secure 130 billion yen in operating profits during the April-October period, far exceeding JAL's estimate.
合理化で、昨年４～１０月の営業利益は予想を大きく上回る１３００億円を確保した。
It is too early to celebrate, however. The improvement in JAL's profits must be attributed to such temporary factors as declining fuel costs and a surge in the value of the yen. The recovery cannot be regarded as an indication that the airline's business will remain profitable from here on out.
だが、喜ぶのは早い。燃料費の下落や円高などによる一時的要因が大きく、黒字体質が定着したとは言えまい。
More worryingly, it is not clear what kind of distinctive services and operations JAL wants to offer to survive and prosper.
それ以上に気になるのは、日航が今後、どんな特徴を持つ航空会社として生き残るつもりなのか、展望が見えてこないことだ。
Competition is expected to become even more intense among airlines this year, due to deregulation of the airline industry and a considerable increase in the number of low-cost carriers.
今年は、航空自由化が進展、格安航空会社の参入も本格化し、競争は一段と厳しくなる。
Airlines around the world are desperately attempting to differentiate themselves from rivals, with some trying to provide upscale in-flight services targeting businesspeople and others boasting of low fares made possible by curtailing operational costs.
世界の航空各社は、ビジネス客優先の高級サービス、コストを切り詰めた低料金など、差別化に懸命だ。
We feel JAL has yet to break with its old ideas about the quality of in-flight services and airfares, despite the reduction in its business scale.
これに対し、日航はスリム化はしても、サービスの提供や運賃の決定について、旧来の発想から抜け出せていないのではないか。
Getting a new crew on board
In December, JAL invited officials from several institutions--including the ETIC and Kyocera Corp., from which JAL Chairman Kazuo Inamori hails--to join its management.
昨年末、稲盛和夫会長の出身母体の京セラなどから役員を迎えた。
We hope JAL will create a daring business strategy unfettered by the accepted wisdom of the airline industry.
業界の常識にとらわれない大胆な戦略を打ち出してほしい。
Another task facing JAL is eliminating the antagonism between its labor and management.
労使対立の解消も課題だ。
A group of about 140 pilots, flight attendants and other personnel is set to file a suit against the airline, insisting they were unduly dismissed as part of the company's restructuring efforts.
パイロットや客室乗務員ら１４０人が整理解雇を不当として、集団提訴に踏み切る。
Efforts must be made to bridge the divide between JAL's labor and management. Doing so will be essential to avert turmoil within the airline, prevent customers from going elsewhere and ensure safety comes first in flight operations.
社内の混乱や顧客離れを避け、安全第一の運航を続けるには、労使の溝を埋める努力が欠かせまい。
In another issue to be addressed in connection with JAL's revival program, the government should hasten to fundamentally reconsider its civil aviation policy.
日航再生を機に、政府も航空行政の抜本見直しを急ぐべきだ。
Measures must be taken to increase the international competitiveness of domestic airlines.
To this end, the government needs, first and foremost, to help reduce landing fees at domestic airports that are higher than those charged overseas. It also must scrap the aircraft fuel tax, which has no counterpart abroad.
航空会社の競争力強化に向け、割高な着陸料の値下げ、世界に例を見ない航空機燃料税の廃止などに優先的に取り組む必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19, 2011)
（2011年1月19日01時21分 読売新聞）
これも時代の流れ、競争力のない航空会社は縮小、消滅させられる。
TGやSQのほうが良い＾＾。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 20, 2011)
Real battle for JAL starts now, one year on
ＪＡＬ破綻１年 再建はこれからが正念場だ（1月19日付・読売社説）
Wednesday marks the passage of one year since Japan Airlines filed for court-administered bankruptcy protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
日本航空が会社更生法の適用を申請し、経営破綻してから、１９日で１年を迎える。
During that time, JAL has striven to streamline its operations through various measures, including reducing the number of its flight routes and employees. The airline is facing a crucial juncture as it seeks to become a listed corporation again at the end of 2012.
この間、路線や人員の削減などリストラを進めてきたが、２０１２年末の株式再上場を目指す再建策は、これからが正念場だ。
Given the massive amount of taxpayers' money used to implement its bailout plan, JAL will no longer be allowed to operate in a laid-back manner, as it did in the past.
巨額の公的資金が投じられており、甘い経営体質の温存は、もはや許されない。
The airline must grow out of its old tendency to rely on the government and politicians whenever it faces a crisis. This is its last chance, one JAL should not miss as it seeks to transform itself into a corporation that can best serve customers' interests.
危機のたびに行政や政治に頼る「親方日の丸」意識を捨て、今度こそ顧客本位の会社に生まれ変わる必要がある。
JAL's rehabilitation plan went into full swing in late November, when the Tokyo District Court gave the go-ahead to the scheme.
昨年１１月末、東京地裁が更生計画を認め、再建が本格化した。
The airline was given a 350 billion yen injection of public funds from the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan (ETIC). It also received a 520 billion yen debt waiver from its major creditor banks.
企業再生支援機構から公的資金３５００億円の出資を受け、取引銀行には５２００億円の借金を棒引きしてもらった。
These measures must be viewed as exceptionally generous assistance that would be unthinkable for ordinary failed corporations. If the bailout plan does not come off, it means the public will have to shoulder a new financial burden. JAL's executives and employees must take this to heart.
通常の破綻企業では考えられない破格の支援であり、再建が頓挫すれば、国民負担も生じる。経営陣や社員は、何よりもまずそのことを肝に銘じるべきである。
Bringing costs down to earth
A certain measure of progress is being made in rectifying the high-cost structure of JAL's operations, a primary task to be tackled in the company's rehabilitation.
最大の課題だった高コスト体質は改善の方向にある。
The airline has taken such steps as withdrawing from 45 domestic and international routes and cutting personnel by about 16,000. All this has brought JAL's operations down to two-thirds of their previous scale.
国内外４５路線からの撤退や１万６０００人の人員削減などで規模は３分の２に縮小した。
The airline's streamlining efforts helped secure 130 billion yen in operating profits during the April-October period, far exceeding JAL's estimate.
合理化で、昨年４～１０月の営業利益は予想を大きく上回る１３００億円を確保した。
It is too early to celebrate, however. The improvement in JAL's profits must be attributed to such temporary factors as declining fuel costs and a surge in the value of the yen. The recovery cannot be regarded as an indication that the airline's business will remain profitable from here on out.
だが、喜ぶのは早い。燃料費の下落や円高などによる一時的要因が大きく、黒字体質が定着したとは言えまい。
More worryingly, it is not clear what kind of distinctive services and operations JAL wants to offer to survive and prosper.
それ以上に気になるのは、日航が今後、どんな特徴を持つ航空会社として生き残るつもりなのか、展望が見えてこないことだ。
Competition is expected to become even more intense among airlines this year, due to deregulation of the airline industry and a considerable increase in the number of low-cost carriers.
今年は、航空自由化が進展、格安航空会社の参入も本格化し、競争は一段と厳しくなる。
Airlines around the world are desperately attempting to differentiate themselves from rivals, with some trying to provide upscale in-flight services targeting businesspeople and others boasting of low fares made possible by curtailing operational costs.
世界の航空各社は、ビジネス客優先の高級サービス、コストを切り詰めた低料金など、差別化に懸命だ。
We feel JAL has yet to break with its old ideas about the quality of in-flight services and airfares, despite the reduction in its business scale.
これに対し、日航はスリム化はしても、サービスの提供や運賃の決定について、旧来の発想から抜け出せていないのではないか。
Getting a new crew on board
In December, JAL invited officials from several institutions--including the ETIC and Kyocera Corp., from which JAL Chairman Kazuo Inamori hails--to join its management.
昨年末、稲盛和夫会長の出身母体の京セラなどから役員を迎えた。
We hope JAL will create a daring business strategy unfettered by the accepted wisdom of the airline industry.
業界の常識にとらわれない大胆な戦略を打ち出してほしい。
Another task facing JAL is eliminating the antagonism between its labor and management.
労使対立の解消も課題だ。
A group of about 140 pilots, flight attendants and other personnel is set to file a suit against the airline, insisting they were unduly dismissed as part of the company's restructuring efforts.
パイロットや客室乗務員ら１４０人が整理解雇を不当として、集団提訴に踏み切る。
Efforts must be made to bridge the divide between JAL's labor and management. Doing so will be essential to avert turmoil within the airline, prevent customers from going elsewhere and ensure safety comes first in flight operations.
社内の混乱や顧客離れを避け、安全第一の運航を続けるには、労使の溝を埋める努力が欠かせまい。
In another issue to be addressed in connection with JAL's revival program, the government should hasten to fundamentally reconsider its civil aviation policy.
日航再生を機に、政府も航空行政の抜本見直しを急ぐべきだ。
Measures must be taken to increase the international competitiveness of domestic airlines.
To this end, the government needs, first and foremost, to help reduce landing fees at domestic airports that are higher than those charged overseas. It also must scrap the aircraft fuel tax, which has no counterpart abroad.
航空会社の競争力強化に向け、割高な着陸料の値下げ、世界に例を見ない航空機燃料税の廃止などに優先的に取り組む必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 19, 2011)
（2011年1月19日01時21分 読売新聞）
2011/01/19
統一地方選へ―失政のツケ払うのは住民
2011/01/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 18
EDITORIAL: Unified local elections
統一地方選へ―失政のツケ払うのは住民
This spring, voters head to the polls for unified local elections.
この春、統一地方選がある。
On April 10, 13 gubernatorial elections, including the one to choose the chief of the Tokyo metropolitan government, will be held along with polls to elect the assemblies for 44 prefectures, including Osaka. On April 24, mayoral and municipal assembly elections will take place around the nation.
東京都をはじめ１３知事選と、大阪府を含む４４道府県議選などが４月１０日に投開票される。２４日には各地の市区町村長、議員選がある。
Due mainly to changes of election days caused by mergers among cities, towns and villages, the ratio of elections to be held this spring to all local polls will be a record low, falling to the 28-percent range.
Still, more than 1,000 local elections will be conducted nationwide, meaning that most voters will have at least one opportunity to cast ballots.
市町村合併などで選挙日がずれ、統一率は過去最低の２８％台だが、全国で１千を超す選挙がある。
ほとんどの有権者に投票の機会がめぐってくる。
Local politics today are quite different from what they used to be.
いまの地方政治には、かつてない特徴がある。
A growing number of local government chiefs are locking horns with assemblies.
首長と議会が激突する構図が広がっていることだ。
On Monday, it was announced that a referendum on whether to dissolve the Nagoya city council will take place Feb. 6.
折しも、きのう名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示された。
Mayor Takashi Kawamura is leading the recall campaign to dissolve the assembly, which rejected his proposal for permanent local tax cuts. He has collected signatures from more than 360,000 voters in the city.
市長が旗を振って３６万人を超す署名を集め、自分の公約の恒久減税を拒んだ議会を解散させようとしている。
On Sunday, a mayoral election was held in the city of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture. Its citizens, through an earlier referendum, had sacked Mayor Shinichi Takehara, who had long been at loggerheads with the municipal assembly.
一昨日には、議会との対立が長引いて、住民投票で解職させられた鹿児島県阿久根市長の出直し選挙もあった。
Takehara, who was criticized for ignoring the assembly, was defeated in Sunday's vote. Citizens will deliver their verdict on the city assembly next month when a referendum is held on whether to dissolve it.
議会を無視した前市長は敗れたが、来月には議会解散をめぐる住民投票があり、住民は改めて議会と向き合う。
The developments in Nagoya and Akune represent two extreme examples of a clash between a local government chief and the assembly.
ふたつの事例は「首長ＶＳ．議会」の過激な展開を見せつけている。
In both cases, the mayor acted in a high-handed way and treated the assembly as a nuisance, while the assembly lost the trust of citizens as it sat snug in the comfort of its privileges and apparently stopped acting on behalf of the public.
どちらも底流には、議会を邪魔もの扱いする市長の強引さと、特権にあぐらをかき、民意を代弁しているように見えない議会に対する住民の不信感がある。
Similar criticism of local assemblies has emerged in various parts of the country, and there are signs that many of the candidates for gubernatorial and mayoral elections this spring will promise to cut the numbers of local assembly members and their salaries.
こうした議会批判はあちこちで起きており、統一地方選では議員の定数や報酬の削減を公約する首長候補者が続出しそうな気配すら漂う。
Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto is also deeply unhappy with the prefectural assembly.
大阪府の橋下徹知事も議会への不満が根強い。
Hashimoto has been campaigning to secure a majority for his own local political party in the prefectural assembly and the city assemblies of Osaka and Sakai.
His truculent stance toward the old-style assembly can be described as a form of "quarrel democracy."
みずからが代表の地域政党で府議会や大阪、堺両市議会の過半数をめざす手法は、旧来の議会に向かって、かかってこいよと言わんばかりの「ケンカ民主主義」といえる。
One question voters will face in the spring elections is how to assess such an approach to politics.
議論で妥協点を探れないなら、選挙で一気に決着をつけるしか道はない。
Politicians in this camp tend to seek voters' decisions in an election when they fail to work out a political compromise through talks.
こんな政治手法をどう評価するのか。それも統一地方選の焦点になる。
What kind of relationship should there be between a local government head and the assembly, which are both elected as representatives of the public?
それぞれ選挙で選ばれる二元代表制のもとで、首長と議会はどんな関係にあるべきなのか。
The political battles in Osaka, Nagoya and Akune offer good case studies that help voters tackle this question.
大阪や名古屋、阿久根での衝突は、「首長ＶＳ．議会」のあり方を考えるための好材料になる。
The role of citizens is a crucial issue in any debate on this topic.
その際に、欠かせない視点が住民の役割だ。
In the past, many local assemblies used to rubber-stamp the local government chief's proposals because residents paid little attention to what their assemblies were doing.
首長の追認機関のような議会が当たり前のようにあったのは、住民の議会に対する関心があまりに低かったからにほかならない。
One big difference between local politics and national politics is that residents have the power to directly fire a local government chief or dissolve a local assembly through a referendum.
地方政治と国政の大きな違いは、自治の現場では住民が直接、首長の解職や議会の解散までも住民投票で決められることだ。
Local governments should operate with tense relationships existing among the local chief, the assembly and the citizens, who can be directly involved in politics.
自治体は本来、首長と議会、住民の直接参加という三つの緊張関係で動かすものなのだ。
Therefore, residents must shoulder the burden if the local government goes bankrupt, as did the city of Yubari, Hokkaido.
だから、北海道夕張市のように財政が破綻（はたん）すれば、負担は住民にのしかかる。
Under the principle of popular sovereignty, residents, who have the right to elect the local government chief and the assembly, must pay the price if those they elect mismanage their local politics.
主権者である住民は投票権を持つとともに、失政のツケを払う責任も背負わされているのだ。
Voters should keep this in mind as they cast their ballots this spring.
この現実を胸に刻んで、首長や議員を選びに行こう。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 18
EDITORIAL: Unified local elections
統一地方選へ―失政のツケ払うのは住民
This spring, voters head to the polls for unified local elections.
この春、統一地方選がある。
On April 10, 13 gubernatorial elections, including the one to choose the chief of the Tokyo metropolitan government, will be held along with polls to elect the assemblies for 44 prefectures, including Osaka. On April 24, mayoral and municipal assembly elections will take place around the nation.
東京都をはじめ１３知事選と、大阪府を含む４４道府県議選などが４月１０日に投開票される。２４日には各地の市区町村長、議員選がある。
Due mainly to changes of election days caused by mergers among cities, towns and villages, the ratio of elections to be held this spring to all local polls will be a record low, falling to the 28-percent range.
Still, more than 1,000 local elections will be conducted nationwide, meaning that most voters will have at least one opportunity to cast ballots.
市町村合併などで選挙日がずれ、統一率は過去最低の２８％台だが、全国で１千を超す選挙がある。
ほとんどの有権者に投票の機会がめぐってくる。
Local politics today are quite different from what they used to be.
いまの地方政治には、かつてない特徴がある。
A growing number of local government chiefs are locking horns with assemblies.
首長と議会が激突する構図が広がっていることだ。
On Monday, it was announced that a referendum on whether to dissolve the Nagoya city council will take place Feb. 6.
折しも、きのう名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示された。
Mayor Takashi Kawamura is leading the recall campaign to dissolve the assembly, which rejected his proposal for permanent local tax cuts. He has collected signatures from more than 360,000 voters in the city.
市長が旗を振って３６万人を超す署名を集め、自分の公約の恒久減税を拒んだ議会を解散させようとしている。
On Sunday, a mayoral election was held in the city of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture. Its citizens, through an earlier referendum, had sacked Mayor Shinichi Takehara, who had long been at loggerheads with the municipal assembly.
一昨日には、議会との対立が長引いて、住民投票で解職させられた鹿児島県阿久根市長の出直し選挙もあった。
Takehara, who was criticized for ignoring the assembly, was defeated in Sunday's vote. Citizens will deliver their verdict on the city assembly next month when a referendum is held on whether to dissolve it.
議会を無視した前市長は敗れたが、来月には議会解散をめぐる住民投票があり、住民は改めて議会と向き合う。
The developments in Nagoya and Akune represent two extreme examples of a clash between a local government chief and the assembly.
ふたつの事例は「首長ＶＳ．議会」の過激な展開を見せつけている。
In both cases, the mayor acted in a high-handed way and treated the assembly as a nuisance, while the assembly lost the trust of citizens as it sat snug in the comfort of its privileges and apparently stopped acting on behalf of the public.
どちらも底流には、議会を邪魔もの扱いする市長の強引さと、特権にあぐらをかき、民意を代弁しているように見えない議会に対する住民の不信感がある。
Similar criticism of local assemblies has emerged in various parts of the country, and there are signs that many of the candidates for gubernatorial and mayoral elections this spring will promise to cut the numbers of local assembly members and their salaries.
こうした議会批判はあちこちで起きており、統一地方選では議員の定数や報酬の削減を公約する首長候補者が続出しそうな気配すら漂う。
Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto is also deeply unhappy with the prefectural assembly.
大阪府の橋下徹知事も議会への不満が根強い。
Hashimoto has been campaigning to secure a majority for his own local political party in the prefectural assembly and the city assemblies of Osaka and Sakai.
His truculent stance toward the old-style assembly can be described as a form of "quarrel democracy."
みずからが代表の地域政党で府議会や大阪、堺両市議会の過半数をめざす手法は、旧来の議会に向かって、かかってこいよと言わんばかりの「ケンカ民主主義」といえる。
One question voters will face in the spring elections is how to assess such an approach to politics.
議論で妥協点を探れないなら、選挙で一気に決着をつけるしか道はない。
Politicians in this camp tend to seek voters' decisions in an election when they fail to work out a political compromise through talks.
こんな政治手法をどう評価するのか。それも統一地方選の焦点になる。
What kind of relationship should there be between a local government head and the assembly, which are both elected as representatives of the public?
それぞれ選挙で選ばれる二元代表制のもとで、首長と議会はどんな関係にあるべきなのか。
The political battles in Osaka, Nagoya and Akune offer good case studies that help voters tackle this question.
大阪や名古屋、阿久根での衝突は、「首長ＶＳ．議会」のあり方を考えるための好材料になる。
The role of citizens is a crucial issue in any debate on this topic.
その際に、欠かせない視点が住民の役割だ。
In the past, many local assemblies used to rubber-stamp the local government chief's proposals because residents paid little attention to what their assemblies were doing.
首長の追認機関のような議会が当たり前のようにあったのは、住民の議会に対する関心があまりに低かったからにほかならない。
One big difference between local politics and national politics is that residents have the power to directly fire a local government chief or dissolve a local assembly through a referendum.
地方政治と国政の大きな違いは、自治の現場では住民が直接、首長の解職や議会の解散までも住民投票で決められることだ。
Local governments should operate with tense relationships existing among the local chief, the assembly and the citizens, who can be directly involved in politics.
自治体は本来、首長と議会、住民の直接参加という三つの緊張関係で動かすものなのだ。
Therefore, residents must shoulder the burden if the local government goes bankrupt, as did the city of Yubari, Hokkaido.
だから、北海道夕張市のように財政が破綻（はたん）すれば、負担は住民にのしかかる。
Under the principle of popular sovereignty, residents, who have the right to elect the local government chief and the assembly, must pay the price if those they elect mismanage their local politics.
主権者である住民は投票権を持つとともに、失政のツケを払う責任も背負わされているのだ。
Voters should keep this in mind as they cast their ballots this spring.
この現実を胸に刻んで、首長や議員を選びに行こう。
阿久根市長選 教訓踏まえ行政改革を進めよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 19, 2011)
Learn from Akune; promote reform early
阿久根市長選 教訓踏まえ行政改革を進めよ（1月18日付・読売社説）
The self-righteous and high-handed administrative style of the former mayor of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture, has been rejected once again.
前市長の独善的で強権的な政治手法が、改めて否定された。
In Sunday's mayoral election--held after former Mayor Shinichi Takehara was recalled in a referendum--Yoshimasa Nishihira, the leader of a civic group opposing Takehara, defeated the ousted mayor.
鹿児島県阿久根市の出直し市長選は、解職請求（リコール）が成立・失職した竹原信一前市長が、新人の西平良将氏に敗北した。
Takehara came into conflict with the city assembly over a series of decisions he made without consulting the body when it was not in session. He sparked controversy by halving bonuses for municipal staff and introducing a system to pay assembly members on a per diem basis.
竹原前市長は議会閉会中に、職員賞与半減や議員報酬の日当制導入などの専決処分を乱発し、市議会と強く対立してきた。
During the campaign, the former mayor criticized the lavish benefits enjoyed by city officials, claiming that more than half of them receive 7 million yen per year.
選挙では「半数以上が年収７００万円」などと市職員の厚遇を批判した。
Nishihira, on the other hand, called for promoting dialogue instead of confrontation.
西平氏は、「対立でなく対話をしていく」と訴えた。
He said that reading a blog posting by Takehara that seemed to deny that handicapped children should have the right to be born drove him to lead the recall campaign. Nishihira's own son is disabled.
自ら障害児の長男を持っていることから、障害児の出生を否定するような前市長のブログに反発し、解職請求運動の中核を担ったという。
The former mayor might have had the right goal of pushing for administrative reform, but the unusual methods he employed must not be tolerated--which also seems to be the conclusion reached by the citizens of Akune by using common sense.
行革という目的が正しくても、前市長の常軌を逸した手法は容認できない。それが市民の常識的な判断だったのだろう。
Nevertheless, Sunday's election turned out to be a close race, reflecting local residents' deep-rooted frustration with the city assembly and other local officials.
一方で、市長選が接戦となったのは、市議会や職員に対する市民の根強い不満が原因だ。
===
Respect spirit of reform
We urge Nishihira to respect the number of votes the former mayor received and to fulfill his election pledges, such as cutting city officials' salaries by 15 percent and investigating a possible cut in the number of assembly members.
西平氏は、前市長の集めた票の重さを尊重し、市職員給与の１５％削減や市議定数の削減検討などの公約を実現する必要がある。
The assembly also must actively cooperate with these efforts.
市議会も積極的に協力すべきだ。
Another referendum will be held in the city on Feb. 20 on whether the assembly should be dissolved, based on a request from a local group that supports Takehara. However, Nishihira's election should gradually resolve the long-standing tension between the mayor and the assembly.
２月２０日には市議会解散の是非を問う住民投票が行われる。西平氏の当選で、市長と議会の対立は収束に向かうことが期待される。
If both parties continue unproductive confrontations and leave undone the administrative work of the city, such as promoting industrial development, local residents will not benefit at all.
両者が不毛な政争を続け、産業振興など本来の行政が後回しになるのは、市民のためにならない。
Confusion in the city has exposed a number of issues that need to be resolved by local governments.
阿久根市政の混乱は、様々な地方自治の教訓を残した。
Administrative reform and disparities between the public and private sectors are problems shared by worn-out local governments around the country.
阿久根市が抱える官民格差や行革の問題は、疲弊した地方都市の多くが共有している。
Learning from Akune, local governments must reexamine whether the number and salary of assembly members and government officials are appropriate.
阿久根市を他山の石として、地方議員や自治体職員の定数・給与が適正かどうか、再点検せねばなるまい。
===
Be a solution, not a problem
Local assemblies are expected to play a key role in resolving these problems.
重要なのは議会の役割だ。
In Nagoya, a referendum on dissolving the city assembly has also been announced. People are taking an increasingly critical look at local assemblies, and the legislative bodies are expected to play a more active role in monitoring and checking the local administrations.
名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示されるなど、地方議会に対する住民の視線は厳しい。行政を監視・抑制する役割を担う議会の活性化が求められている。
Takehara's outrageous behavior also exposed legal loopholes that allowed him to take such actions.
竹原前市長の暴走を許した法律面の不備も明らかになった。
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Local Government Law in the next ordinary Diet session.
総務省は通常国会に地方自治法改正案を提出する。
The planned revisions would make it impossible for local government heads to appoint deputy governors and mayors without consulting their assemblies. Local government heads would also be required to make corrections if assemblies do not approve administrative decisions made without consulting them.
副知事や副市町村長の選任を専決処分の対象外とするほか、専決処分を議会が不承認とした場合、首長に是正措置を義務づける内容だ。
We find these revisions quite reasonable, and hope the Diet will pass the bill into law as soon as possible.
妥当であり、早期に成立させてもらいたい。
The current system also allows a head of a local government who has lost his or her job in a referendum to run for the post again in the recall election, a system we find problematic.
住民投票で失職した首長が出直し選に出馬できる現行制度にも問題がある。
If Takehara had been elected in Sunday's election, administrative confusion in the city could have continued.
仮に竹原前市長が当選していれば、市政の混乱が長期化する恐れがあった。
The government should regulate who can run in elections following the recall of a local government head.
出直し選への出馬制限を検討してはどうか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2011)
（2011年1月18日01時22分 読売新聞）
Learn from Akune; promote reform early
阿久根市長選 教訓踏まえ行政改革を進めよ（1月18日付・読売社説）
The self-righteous and high-handed administrative style of the former mayor of Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture, has been rejected once again.
前市長の独善的で強権的な政治手法が、改めて否定された。
In Sunday's mayoral election--held after former Mayor Shinichi Takehara was recalled in a referendum--Yoshimasa Nishihira, the leader of a civic group opposing Takehara, defeated the ousted mayor.
鹿児島県阿久根市の出直し市長選は、解職請求（リコール）が成立・失職した竹原信一前市長が、新人の西平良将氏に敗北した。
Takehara came into conflict with the city assembly over a series of decisions he made without consulting the body when it was not in session. He sparked controversy by halving bonuses for municipal staff and introducing a system to pay assembly members on a per diem basis.
竹原前市長は議会閉会中に、職員賞与半減や議員報酬の日当制導入などの専決処分を乱発し、市議会と強く対立してきた。
During the campaign, the former mayor criticized the lavish benefits enjoyed by city officials, claiming that more than half of them receive 7 million yen per year.
選挙では「半数以上が年収７００万円」などと市職員の厚遇を批判した。
Nishihira, on the other hand, called for promoting dialogue instead of confrontation.
西平氏は、「対立でなく対話をしていく」と訴えた。
He said that reading a blog posting by Takehara that seemed to deny that handicapped children should have the right to be born drove him to lead the recall campaign. Nishihira's own son is disabled.
自ら障害児の長男を持っていることから、障害児の出生を否定するような前市長のブログに反発し、解職請求運動の中核を担ったという。
The former mayor might have had the right goal of pushing for administrative reform, but the unusual methods he employed must not be tolerated--which also seems to be the conclusion reached by the citizens of Akune by using common sense.
行革という目的が正しくても、前市長の常軌を逸した手法は容認できない。それが市民の常識的な判断だったのだろう。
Nevertheless, Sunday's election turned out to be a close race, reflecting local residents' deep-rooted frustration with the city assembly and other local officials.
一方で、市長選が接戦となったのは、市議会や職員に対する市民の根強い不満が原因だ。
===
Respect spirit of reform
We urge Nishihira to respect the number of votes the former mayor received and to fulfill his election pledges, such as cutting city officials' salaries by 15 percent and investigating a possible cut in the number of assembly members.
西平氏は、前市長の集めた票の重さを尊重し、市職員給与の１５％削減や市議定数の削減検討などの公約を実現する必要がある。
The assembly also must actively cooperate with these efforts.
市議会も積極的に協力すべきだ。
Another referendum will be held in the city on Feb. 20 on whether the assembly should be dissolved, based on a request from a local group that supports Takehara. However, Nishihira's election should gradually resolve the long-standing tension between the mayor and the assembly.
２月２０日には市議会解散の是非を問う住民投票が行われる。西平氏の当選で、市長と議会の対立は収束に向かうことが期待される。
If both parties continue unproductive confrontations and leave undone the administrative work of the city, such as promoting industrial development, local residents will not benefit at all.
両者が不毛な政争を続け、産業振興など本来の行政が後回しになるのは、市民のためにならない。
Confusion in the city has exposed a number of issues that need to be resolved by local governments.
阿久根市政の混乱は、様々な地方自治の教訓を残した。
Administrative reform and disparities between the public and private sectors are problems shared by worn-out local governments around the country.
阿久根市が抱える官民格差や行革の問題は、疲弊した地方都市の多くが共有している。
Learning from Akune, local governments must reexamine whether the number and salary of assembly members and government officials are appropriate.
阿久根市を他山の石として、地方議員や自治体職員の定数・給与が適正かどうか、再点検せねばなるまい。
===
Be a solution, not a problem
Local assemblies are expected to play a key role in resolving these problems.
重要なのは議会の役割だ。
In Nagoya, a referendum on dissolving the city assembly has also been announced. People are taking an increasingly critical look at local assemblies, and the legislative bodies are expected to play a more active role in monitoring and checking the local administrations.
名古屋市議会の解散の是非を問う住民投票が告示されるなど、地方議会に対する住民の視線は厳しい。行政を監視・抑制する役割を担う議会の活性化が求められている。
Takehara's outrageous behavior also exposed legal loopholes that allowed him to take such actions.
竹原前市長の暴走を許した法律面の不備も明らかになった。
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Local Government Law in the next ordinary Diet session.
総務省は通常国会に地方自治法改正案を提出する。
The planned revisions would make it impossible for local government heads to appoint deputy governors and mayors without consulting their assemblies. Local government heads would also be required to make corrections if assemblies do not approve administrative decisions made without consulting them.
副知事や副市町村長の選任を専決処分の対象外とするほか、専決処分を議会が不承認とした場合、首長に是正措置を義務づける内容だ。
We find these revisions quite reasonable, and hope the Diet will pass the bill into law as soon as possible.
妥当であり、早期に成立させてもらいたい。
The current system also allows a head of a local government who has lost his or her job in a referendum to run for the post again in the recall election, a system we find problematic.
住民投票で失職した首長が出直し選に出馬できる現行制度にも問題がある。
If Takehara had been elected in Sunday's election, administrative confusion in the city could have continued.
仮に竹原前市長が当選していれば、市政の混乱が長期化する恐れがあった。
The government should regulate who can run in elections following the recall of a local government head.
出直し選への出馬制限を検討してはどうか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2011)
（2011年1月18日01時22分 読売新聞）
2011/01/18
ルノー情報流出 日本の電気自動車技術を守れ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 18, 2011)
Japan's EV expertise must be protected
ルノー情報流出 日本の電気自動車技術を守れ（1月17日付・読売社説）
It has recently been revealed that leading French carmaker Renault has suffered a leak of sensitive information about its electric vehicle technology.
仏自動車大手のルノーで、電気自動車（ＥＶ）の技術情報が流出したとの疑惑が発覚した。
Carmakers around the world are scrambling to develop zero-emission electric vehicles that are expected to be front and center among next-generation eco-cars. If the allegations about the Renault leak are proven true, it would be a shocking case of industrial espionage.
ＥＶは走行中に二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）を出さないため、次世代エコカー（環境対応車）の主役と期待され、世界各社が開発を競っている。疑惑が事実とすれば、衝撃的な産業スパイ事件と言えよう。
Renault has filed a criminal complaint on the case with French legal authorities. We hope French authorities conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of this case.
ルノーは、この問題を仏司法当局に告訴した。今後の捜査で、徹底した真相解明を求めたい。
Renault is the largest shareholder of Nissan Motor Co., and the two carmakers have jointly developed electric vehicles. In December, Nissan started selling its Leaf electric vehicle in Japan and the United States. Renault plans to roll out an EV this year.
ルノーは日産自動車の筆頭株主で、両社はＥＶを共同開発してきた。日産は昨年末にＥＶのリーフを日米で発売し、ルノーも今年、ＥＶを売り出す計画だ。
Three Renault executives are suspected of leaking information including data about the vehicle's body structure and prices. Renault says information on the vehicle's core technologies such as lithium ion batteries were not leaked. But what actually happened?
疑われているのはルノー幹部３人だ。ＥＶの車体構造や価格などの情報を漏らしたとされるが、リチウムイオン電池などの核心技術は流出していないとルノーは説明している。真相はどうなのか。
French media have reported that the three executives are suspected of receiving generous rewards in return for leaking the data to Chinese firms.
仏メディアは、３人が中国企業に情報を漏えいし、巨額の報酬を受け取っていた可能性があるとも報じている。
Lessons to be learned
There could be grave consequences if it is proven that Japan's cutting-edge technology has been leaked to China via a foreign company that is a business partner of a Japanese firm.
日本の最先端技術が提携先の海外企業から中国に漏えいしたとすれば、憂慮すべき事態である。
Leaks of secret data also have been reported at a French auto parts maker, among others. While each French maker should naturally strengthen its protection and administration of secret information, we also urge the French authorities to bolster their investigations into infringements of intellectual assets.
フランスでは、自動車部品メーカーなどでも極秘情報が流出する事件が起きた。各社が機密の管理対策を強めるのは当然だが、知的財産の侵害に対する仏当局の摘発体制の強化も求められよう。
The Japanese government and companies must learn lessons from the Renault case.
一方、日本政府と日本企業もルノー事件を教訓とすべきだ。
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. became the first major automaker to market an electric vehicle when it released its i-MiEV in the summer of 2009. Nissan followed suit last year, and Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. plan to launch electric vehicles next year. Japanese carmakers are leading the global EV market.
ＥＶ開発を巡っては、一昨年夏に三菱自動車が大手メーカーで初めて、アイ・ミーブを販売し、日産も追随した。トヨタ自動車とホンダも来年発売する計画で、日本が世界をリードしている。
Their rivals in the United States, Europe and China have been cranking up their efforts to develop EVs, joining in the battle for eco-car supremacy. Depending on who emerges victorious in this competition, the power balance among carmakers could change dramatically.
しかし、エコカーの覇権を狙い、欧米や中国のメーカーが日本を追ってＥＶ開発を加速させている。競争の結果次第で、勢力図が激変する可能性もある。
Stay alert against espionage
With the stakes being so high, it is essential that Japanese firms protect their state-of-the-art technologies to maintain their competitive edge. They also need to stay on guard against industrial espionage and ensure they have structures in place to protect Japan's high-tech information not only on electric vehicles but also on other technologies, such as electronics.
それだけに、日本企業の最先端技術を保護し、競争力を維持することが肝要だ。ＥＶに限らず、エレクトロニクスなど日本のハイテク情報全体が狙われることを警戒し、対策を立てる必要がある。
To prevent leaks, companies must block all outside access to key technologies and maintain airtight data control.
漏えい防止には、管理の徹底ばかりでなく、重要技術を外部から遮断する「ブラックボックス化」の工夫が大事だろう。
To make it easier to crack down on infringement of corporate secrets, the government bolstered the Unfair Competition Prevention Law last summer by adopting tougher punitive measures.
企業秘密などに対する侵害行為を容易に摘発できるよう、政府が昨夏、不正競争防止法を強化し罰則を重くしたことは妥当だ。
Concerted efforts by the private and public sectors will be required to defend the technological information that sustains Japan's manufacturing industry.
日本のモノ作りを支える技術情報を防衛するには、官民の一層の連携が必要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17, 2011)
（2011年1月17日00時58分 読売新聞）
Japan's EV expertise must be protected
ルノー情報流出 日本の電気自動車技術を守れ（1月17日付・読売社説）
It has recently been revealed that leading French carmaker Renault has suffered a leak of sensitive information about its electric vehicle technology.
仏自動車大手のルノーで、電気自動車（ＥＶ）の技術情報が流出したとの疑惑が発覚した。
Carmakers around the world are scrambling to develop zero-emission electric vehicles that are expected to be front and center among next-generation eco-cars. If the allegations about the Renault leak are proven true, it would be a shocking case of industrial espionage.
ＥＶは走行中に二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）を出さないため、次世代エコカー（環境対応車）の主役と期待され、世界各社が開発を競っている。疑惑が事実とすれば、衝撃的な産業スパイ事件と言えよう。
Renault has filed a criminal complaint on the case with French legal authorities. We hope French authorities conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of this case.
ルノーは、この問題を仏司法当局に告訴した。今後の捜査で、徹底した真相解明を求めたい。
Renault is the largest shareholder of Nissan Motor Co., and the two carmakers have jointly developed electric vehicles. In December, Nissan started selling its Leaf electric vehicle in Japan and the United States. Renault plans to roll out an EV this year.
ルノーは日産自動車の筆頭株主で、両社はＥＶを共同開発してきた。日産は昨年末にＥＶのリーフを日米で発売し、ルノーも今年、ＥＶを売り出す計画だ。
Three Renault executives are suspected of leaking information including data about the vehicle's body structure and prices. Renault says information on the vehicle's core technologies such as lithium ion batteries were not leaked. But what actually happened?
疑われているのはルノー幹部３人だ。ＥＶの車体構造や価格などの情報を漏らしたとされるが、リチウムイオン電池などの核心技術は流出していないとルノーは説明している。真相はどうなのか。
French media have reported that the three executives are suspected of receiving generous rewards in return for leaking the data to Chinese firms.
仏メディアは、３人が中国企業に情報を漏えいし、巨額の報酬を受け取っていた可能性があるとも報じている。
Lessons to be learned
There could be grave consequences if it is proven that Japan's cutting-edge technology has been leaked to China via a foreign company that is a business partner of a Japanese firm.
日本の最先端技術が提携先の海外企業から中国に漏えいしたとすれば、憂慮すべき事態である。
Leaks of secret data also have been reported at a French auto parts maker, among others. While each French maker should naturally strengthen its protection and administration of secret information, we also urge the French authorities to bolster their investigations into infringements of intellectual assets.
フランスでは、自動車部品メーカーなどでも極秘情報が流出する事件が起きた。各社が機密の管理対策を強めるのは当然だが、知的財産の侵害に対する仏当局の摘発体制の強化も求められよう。
The Japanese government and companies must learn lessons from the Renault case.
一方、日本政府と日本企業もルノー事件を教訓とすべきだ。
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. became the first major automaker to market an electric vehicle when it released its i-MiEV in the summer of 2009. Nissan followed suit last year, and Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. plan to launch electric vehicles next year. Japanese carmakers are leading the global EV market.
ＥＶ開発を巡っては、一昨年夏に三菱自動車が大手メーカーで初めて、アイ・ミーブを販売し、日産も追随した。トヨタ自動車とホンダも来年発売する計画で、日本が世界をリードしている。
Their rivals in the United States, Europe and China have been cranking up their efforts to develop EVs, joining in the battle for eco-car supremacy. Depending on who emerges victorious in this competition, the power balance among carmakers could change dramatically.
しかし、エコカーの覇権を狙い、欧米や中国のメーカーが日本を追ってＥＶ開発を加速させている。競争の結果次第で、勢力図が激変する可能性もある。
Stay alert against espionage
With the stakes being so high, it is essential that Japanese firms protect their state-of-the-art technologies to maintain their competitive edge. They also need to stay on guard against industrial espionage and ensure they have structures in place to protect Japan's high-tech information not only on electric vehicles but also on other technologies, such as electronics.
それだけに、日本企業の最先端技術を保護し、競争力を維持することが肝要だ。ＥＶに限らず、エレクトロニクスなど日本のハイテク情報全体が狙われることを警戒し、対策を立てる必要がある。
To prevent leaks, companies must block all outside access to key technologies and maintain airtight data control.
漏えい防止には、管理の徹底ばかりでなく、重要技術を外部から遮断する「ブラックボックス化」の工夫が大事だろう。
To make it easier to crack down on infringement of corporate secrets, the government bolstered the Unfair Competition Prevention Law last summer by adopting tougher punitive measures.
企業秘密などに対する侵害行為を容易に摘発できるよう、政府が昨夏、不正競争防止法を強化し罰則を重くしたことは妥当だ。
Concerted efforts by the private and public sectors will be required to defend the technological information that sustains Japan's manufacturing industry.
日本のモノ作りを支える技術情報を防衛するには、官民の一層の連携が必要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 17, 2011)
（2011年1月17日00時58分 読売新聞）
2011/01/17
支持率持ち直し 菅内閣は政策実現に全力を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 17, 2011)
Kan must meet goals to build public trust
支持率持ち直し 菅内閣は政策実現に全力を（1月16日付・読売社説）
The approval rating for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet has risen to 34 percent, according to a survey The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted in rapid response to Friday's reshuffle. The reshuffle, Kan's second, appeared to give a slight boost to the approval rating, which had dropped as low as 25 percent last month.
内閣再改造直後に実施した読売新聞の緊急世論調査で菅内閣の支持率が３４％になった。先月、内閣支持率は２５％にまで落ち込んだが、再改造でやや持ち直した。
The improved figure apparently reflects the public's desire for the new administration to carry out significant policy measures.
政策実現のための新たな布陣にひとまず期待するということだろう。
The rise in the approval rating may be attributed to public hopes for the new lineup of ministers, whom the prime minister has dubbed "the strongest team," though the reshuffle was relatively minor.
小幅ながらも、閣僚の顔ぶれが変わり、首相の言う「最強の態勢」に期するところが、内閣支持率を押し上げたと言える。
Support for tax hike, TPP
The survey also found that about 60 percent of respondents gave positive answers when asked about their opinion of a possible hike in the consumption tax rate to sustain the social security system. The same number supported the idea of the nation's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement among Asia-Pacific countries.
世論調査では、社会保障制度維持のための消費税率引き上げ、アジア太平洋諸国と貿易を自由化する環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加について前向きに答えた人がいずれも約６割を占めた。
Taking into consideration what many of the public hope, the prime minister should take an assertive approach to resolving outstanding issues.
多くの国民が望んでいることを踏まえ、首相は、懸案解決に断固とした姿勢で臨むべきだ。
The same thing can be said regarding former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's alleged involvement in a money-and-politics scandal. Eighty-one percent of respondents said Ozawa should explain about it at the Diet.
小沢一郎・元民主党代表の「政治とカネ」の問題についても同様である。８１％が、小沢氏は国会で説明すべきだと考えている。
Kan has already expressed his intention to urge Ozawa to resign as a lawmaker and leave the DPJ when a mandatory indictment is made against him. The survey found that Kan's position is supported by 72 percent of the public. If the prime minister can solve issues related to Ozawa, the public evaluation of the Kan Cabinet is bound to improve.
小沢氏が強制起訴された場合、菅首相は議員辞職や離党を促す意向を示したが、こうした首相の方針を７２％の人が支持した。小沢氏の問題の解決が、菅内閣の評価を高めることにつながろう。
Meanwhile, nearly half of respondents did not back the move that attracted the most attention in the reshuffle, namely the appointment of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano as state minster in charge of economic and fiscal policy.
一方、今回の改造で最も注目された、与謝野馨・元官房長官の経済財政相起用については「評価しない」が、ほぼ半数を占めた。
When he belonged to the Liberal Democratic Party and then to the Sunrise Party of Japan, Yosano was highly critical of the DPJ-led government. This fact has made the public unable to understand his appointment as a Cabinet member, and opposition to it is getting stronger not only within the DPJ but also in the LDP and the other opposition parties.
与謝野氏は自民党、たちあがれ日本で、激しく民主党政権を批判してきた。それだけに国民の間には、「入閣は理解できない」という思いが広がっているのだろう。民主党だけでなく、自民党など野党側にも反発が強まっている。
Yosano must deal with such doubts and criticism by showing good results. Whether he does so will surely have an impact on the fate of the Kan Cabinet.
こうした疑問や批判に対して、与謝野氏は、実績を示すことで応えなければならない。それが、菅内閣の行方を左右することになるに違いない。
The second reshuffle seems to have temporarily lifted the Kan Cabinet out of the public-opinion danger zone. However, the people's feelings toward it remain cold, especially when compared to how the Cabinet's approval rating jumped to 66 percent in a poll conducted immediately after the first reshuffle in September.
菅内閣は、再改造によってとりあえず“危険水域”を脱した格好だ。ただ、昨年９月の内閣改造直後の世論調査では支持率が６６％に跳ね上がったことと比べると、国民の見方は依然冷ややかだ。
Will Kan be able to do it?
It is symbolic that 70 percent of respondents replied "no" to a question on whether the Cabinet will be able to achieve satisfactory results with its policy measures.
象徴的なのが、政策面で実績を上げられると思うかという問いに対し、７０％が「そうは思わない」と答えていることである。
Kan has used flashy slogans, such as "walk the talk" and "employment first, employment second and employment third." But he lacked the ability to make his slogans come true. The prime minister got cold feet after more and more members of the DPJ expressed opposition to a consumption tax rate hike and participation in the TPP trade pact.
菅首相は「有言実行」、「一に雇用、二に雇用、三に雇用」などスローガンは掲げるが、実行力が伴わなかった。消費税率引き上げやＴＰＰについても、党内で反対論が強まると及び腰になった。
If he shows signs of backpedaling again, the public will lose all confidence in Kan for good. With this in mind, the prime minister should proactively tackle state affairs.
首相が再び逃げを打つような態度に出れば国民に見放される。そのことを胸に刻み、国政のかじ取りに当たってもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16, 2011)
（2011年1月16日01時12分 読売新聞）
Kan must meet goals to build public trust
支持率持ち直し 菅内閣は政策実現に全力を（1月16日付・読売社説）
The approval rating for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet has risen to 34 percent, according to a survey The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted in rapid response to Friday's reshuffle. The reshuffle, Kan's second, appeared to give a slight boost to the approval rating, which had dropped as low as 25 percent last month.
内閣再改造直後に実施した読売新聞の緊急世論調査で菅内閣の支持率が３４％になった。先月、内閣支持率は２５％にまで落ち込んだが、再改造でやや持ち直した。
The improved figure apparently reflects the public's desire for the new administration to carry out significant policy measures.
政策実現のための新たな布陣にひとまず期待するということだろう。
The rise in the approval rating may be attributed to public hopes for the new lineup of ministers, whom the prime minister has dubbed "the strongest team," though the reshuffle was relatively minor.
小幅ながらも、閣僚の顔ぶれが変わり、首相の言う「最強の態勢」に期するところが、内閣支持率を押し上げたと言える。
Support for tax hike, TPP
The survey also found that about 60 percent of respondents gave positive answers when asked about their opinion of a possible hike in the consumption tax rate to sustain the social security system. The same number supported the idea of the nation's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement among Asia-Pacific countries.
世論調査では、社会保障制度維持のための消費税率引き上げ、アジア太平洋諸国と貿易を自由化する環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加について前向きに答えた人がいずれも約６割を占めた。
Taking into consideration what many of the public hope, the prime minister should take an assertive approach to resolving outstanding issues.
多くの国民が望んでいることを踏まえ、首相は、懸案解決に断固とした姿勢で臨むべきだ。
The same thing can be said regarding former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's alleged involvement in a money-and-politics scandal. Eighty-one percent of respondents said Ozawa should explain about it at the Diet.
小沢一郎・元民主党代表の「政治とカネ」の問題についても同様である。８１％が、小沢氏は国会で説明すべきだと考えている。
Kan has already expressed his intention to urge Ozawa to resign as a lawmaker and leave the DPJ when a mandatory indictment is made against him. The survey found that Kan's position is supported by 72 percent of the public. If the prime minister can solve issues related to Ozawa, the public evaluation of the Kan Cabinet is bound to improve.
小沢氏が強制起訴された場合、菅首相は議員辞職や離党を促す意向を示したが、こうした首相の方針を７２％の人が支持した。小沢氏の問題の解決が、菅内閣の評価を高めることにつながろう。
Meanwhile, nearly half of respondents did not back the move that attracted the most attention in the reshuffle, namely the appointment of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano as state minster in charge of economic and fiscal policy.
一方、今回の改造で最も注目された、与謝野馨・元官房長官の経済財政相起用については「評価しない」が、ほぼ半数を占めた。
When he belonged to the Liberal Democratic Party and then to the Sunrise Party of Japan, Yosano was highly critical of the DPJ-led government. This fact has made the public unable to understand his appointment as a Cabinet member, and opposition to it is getting stronger not only within the DPJ but also in the LDP and the other opposition parties.
与謝野氏は自民党、たちあがれ日本で、激しく民主党政権を批判してきた。それだけに国民の間には、「入閣は理解できない」という思いが広がっているのだろう。民主党だけでなく、自民党など野党側にも反発が強まっている。
Yosano must deal with such doubts and criticism by showing good results. Whether he does so will surely have an impact on the fate of the Kan Cabinet.
こうした疑問や批判に対して、与謝野氏は、実績を示すことで応えなければならない。それが、菅内閣の行方を左右することになるに違いない。
The second reshuffle seems to have temporarily lifted the Kan Cabinet out of the public-opinion danger zone. However, the people's feelings toward it remain cold, especially when compared to how the Cabinet's approval rating jumped to 66 percent in a poll conducted immediately after the first reshuffle in September.
菅内閣は、再改造によってとりあえず“危険水域”を脱した格好だ。ただ、昨年９月の内閣改造直後の世論調査では支持率が６６％に跳ね上がったことと比べると、国民の見方は依然冷ややかだ。
Will Kan be able to do it?
It is symbolic that 70 percent of respondents replied "no" to a question on whether the Cabinet will be able to achieve satisfactory results with its policy measures.
象徴的なのが、政策面で実績を上げられると思うかという問いに対し、７０％が「そうは思わない」と答えていることである。
Kan has used flashy slogans, such as "walk the talk" and "employment first, employment second and employment third." But he lacked the ability to make his slogans come true. The prime minister got cold feet after more and more members of the DPJ expressed opposition to a consumption tax rate hike and participation in the TPP trade pact.
菅首相は「有言実行」、「一に雇用、二に雇用、三に雇用」などスローガンは掲げるが、実行力が伴わなかった。消費税率引き上げやＴＰＰについても、党内で反対論が強まると及び腰になった。
If he shows signs of backpedaling again, the public will lose all confidence in Kan for good. With this in mind, the prime minister should proactively tackle state affairs.
首相が再び逃げを打つような態度に出れば国民に見放される。そのことを胸に刻み、国政のかじ取りに当たってもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 16, 2011)
（2011年1月16日01時12分 読売新聞）
2011/01/16
政権公約見直し―予算案修正と一体で臨め
2011/01/15
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 14
EDITORIAL: DPJ's manifesto review
政権公約見直し―予算案修正と一体で臨め
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan decided in a party convention Thursday to revise by summer its manifesto for the 2009 Lower House election.
民主党がきのうの党大会で、夏までに２００９年衆院選のマニフェスト（政権公約）を見直す方針を決めた。
As for the draft budget for next fiscal year, which is based on the manifesto, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada recently indicated the spending plan should also be subject to change.
この政権公約を土台に編成している新年度予算案についても、同党の岡田克也幹事長が先日、「修正に否定的ではない。
"We are not opposed to a revision (to the draft budget)," Okada said. "The plan drawn up by the government is not final. There should be the possibility for the plan to be changed through debate."
政府が出したものが最終ではなく、議論で変えることはあっていい」と述べている。
We welcome the fact that the government and the DPJ have shown a willingness to change problematic elements in the party's campaign platform and the government's spending blueprint.
問題のある政権公約や予算案について、政府・与党が修正に柔軟な姿勢を示したことを評価したい。
But summer may be too late for the proposed revision to the manifesto.
ただし公約の見直しが夏というのは遅すぎないか。
It is, of course, necessary for the party to hold sufficient debate on the matter. But it doesn't make sense that the draft budget for the new fiscal year, to be deliberated by the Diet during the upcoming regular session, will not reflect any of the changes in the party's manifesto that might be made through the review.
十分な党内論議を積み重ねることはもちろん必要だ。とはいえ、これから開く国会で審議する新年度予算案に、見直しの成果がまったく反映されないのではつじつまが合わなくなる。
If the outlooks of specific programs and projects remain murky, the opposition parties could create problems for the ruling party in enacting the budget.
政策の行方が今後どうなるかわからないという状況のなかで、予算案を通してくれと言われても、野党が理解を示すとは思えない。
A major change to a budget bill during a Diet session is extremely rare. There have been a few cases of minor revisions in the past, but no large-scale amendment to a budget bill, such as changing the budget framework, has ever happened.
国会開会中の本格的な予算案修正は極めて異例である。過去には小規模な修正例が数件あるだけで、枠組みを変えるような大がかりな修正例はない。
However, the ruling camp now needs to demonstrate its commitment to adjusting its policy agenda to the realities by showing a willingness to make such a radical change to its spending plan.
だが今こそ、それも辞さない覚悟を、政府・与党に求めたい。
Amending the budget bill is necessary, but not as a gambit to ensure its passage in the Diet. It is necessary because it is clear that the DPJ's election manifesto, which has served as a basis for budget formulation since the previous administration of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, needs to be reformed considerably.
予算案修正が必要なのは、単に成立を図るための国会対策の方便としてではない。鳩山政権以来、予算の土台となってきた政権公約は、財源の確保や制度づくりの難しさに照らして、かなり修正が必要なことがはっきりしているからである。
For example, the abolition of expressway tolls, one of the key DPJ election promises, is no longer a reasonable policy goal given the troubles raised by the initiative, such as the negative effects on public transportation services, traffic congestion on expressways and the financing problem.
例えば政権公約の目玉の一つである高速料金の原則無料化は、他の公共交通機関への影響、渋滞や財源の問題があって、もはや最終ゴールにはなりえない。
There is no convincing case for providing funding for a continuation of the "experimental" scrapping of tolls for some expressways under the budget for the fiscal year starting in April.
にもかかわらず新年度予算案に社会実験の継続が盛り込まれるのは、説得力を欠く。
The newly introduced program to prop up the income of farmers with direct cash payments has hampered consolidation of fragmented farmland because all farmers, including small-scale ones, selling rice and other staples are eligible. It has become clear that the program represents an impediment to efforts to improve efficiency in Japanese agriculture. Does the ruling camp intend to keep the program alive without tackling this problem?
農業の戸別所得補償は、零細農家を含めすべての販売農家を対象としたことで農地集約の障害となり、効率化が進まないという欠陥が露呈した。それを放置したまま制度を続けるのか。
Regarding the child allowance program, the government has decided to keep providing 13,000 yen ($157) a month per child--half of the amount the DPJ promised--to households with young children. Does the administration plan to eventually increase the allowance to the promised amount?
子ども手当は、政権公約にうたった額の半分、月１万３千円の給付を続けるが、いずれ満額まで上積みする前提なのか。
Other issues related to the child-allowance initiative need to be addressed, such as whether support should be provided in the form of goods and whether an income cap on eligibility should be introduced.
現物給付に重点を移す道や所得制限導入の是非も論点として残る。
If the futures of these policy measures remain uncertain, the people cannot develop their life plans.
もろもろの政策の行き着く先が見えぬままでは、国民は制度継続を前提に生活設計はできない。
The government should steer its policy agenda in an appropriate direction as soon as possible to prevent any disruption in the people's lives and economic activities.
適切な方向に早くかじを切り直し、国民生活や経済活動が停滞しないようにすべきだ。
That requires the ruling bloc to reconsider its main policy promises ahead of schedule and amend the draft budget flexibly through Diet debate.
それには主要施策の政権公約だけでも前倒しで見直し、国会論戦を通じて予算案を柔軟に修正すべきである。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan should give the public a detailed explanation about the reasons for the changes and the new directions of the policies.
もちろんその際、菅直人首相は修正理由と新たな政策の方向について、国民に丁寧に説明しなければならない。
The opposition parties, for their part, should not refuse debate on such changes without good reason and make their judgments from the viewpoint of public interest.
野党もいたずらに審議を拒むことなく、国民本位で判断してもらいたい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 14
EDITORIAL: DPJ's manifesto review
政権公約見直し―予算案修正と一体で臨め
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan decided in a party convention Thursday to revise by summer its manifesto for the 2009 Lower House election.
民主党がきのうの党大会で、夏までに２００９年衆院選のマニフェスト（政権公約）を見直す方針を決めた。
As for the draft budget for next fiscal year, which is based on the manifesto, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada recently indicated the spending plan should also be subject to change.
この政権公約を土台に編成している新年度予算案についても、同党の岡田克也幹事長が先日、「修正に否定的ではない。
"We are not opposed to a revision (to the draft budget)," Okada said. "The plan drawn up by the government is not final. There should be the possibility for the plan to be changed through debate."
政府が出したものが最終ではなく、議論で変えることはあっていい」と述べている。
We welcome the fact that the government and the DPJ have shown a willingness to change problematic elements in the party's campaign platform and the government's spending blueprint.
問題のある政権公約や予算案について、政府・与党が修正に柔軟な姿勢を示したことを評価したい。
But summer may be too late for the proposed revision to the manifesto.
ただし公約の見直しが夏というのは遅すぎないか。
It is, of course, necessary for the party to hold sufficient debate on the matter. But it doesn't make sense that the draft budget for the new fiscal year, to be deliberated by the Diet during the upcoming regular session, will not reflect any of the changes in the party's manifesto that might be made through the review.
十分な党内論議を積み重ねることはもちろん必要だ。とはいえ、これから開く国会で審議する新年度予算案に、見直しの成果がまったく反映されないのではつじつまが合わなくなる。
If the outlooks of specific programs and projects remain murky, the opposition parties could create problems for the ruling party in enacting the budget.
政策の行方が今後どうなるかわからないという状況のなかで、予算案を通してくれと言われても、野党が理解を示すとは思えない。
A major change to a budget bill during a Diet session is extremely rare. There have been a few cases of minor revisions in the past, but no large-scale amendment to a budget bill, such as changing the budget framework, has ever happened.
国会開会中の本格的な予算案修正は極めて異例である。過去には小規模な修正例が数件あるだけで、枠組みを変えるような大がかりな修正例はない。
However, the ruling camp now needs to demonstrate its commitment to adjusting its policy agenda to the realities by showing a willingness to make such a radical change to its spending plan.
だが今こそ、それも辞さない覚悟を、政府・与党に求めたい。
Amending the budget bill is necessary, but not as a gambit to ensure its passage in the Diet. It is necessary because it is clear that the DPJ's election manifesto, which has served as a basis for budget formulation since the previous administration of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, needs to be reformed considerably.
予算案修正が必要なのは、単に成立を図るための国会対策の方便としてではない。鳩山政権以来、予算の土台となってきた政権公約は、財源の確保や制度づくりの難しさに照らして、かなり修正が必要なことがはっきりしているからである。
For example, the abolition of expressway tolls, one of the key DPJ election promises, is no longer a reasonable policy goal given the troubles raised by the initiative, such as the negative effects on public transportation services, traffic congestion on expressways and the financing problem.
例えば政権公約の目玉の一つである高速料金の原則無料化は、他の公共交通機関への影響、渋滞や財源の問題があって、もはや最終ゴールにはなりえない。
There is no convincing case for providing funding for a continuation of the "experimental" scrapping of tolls for some expressways under the budget for the fiscal year starting in April.
にもかかわらず新年度予算案に社会実験の継続が盛り込まれるのは、説得力を欠く。
The newly introduced program to prop up the income of farmers with direct cash payments has hampered consolidation of fragmented farmland because all farmers, including small-scale ones, selling rice and other staples are eligible. It has become clear that the program represents an impediment to efforts to improve efficiency in Japanese agriculture. Does the ruling camp intend to keep the program alive without tackling this problem?
農業の戸別所得補償は、零細農家を含めすべての販売農家を対象としたことで農地集約の障害となり、効率化が進まないという欠陥が露呈した。それを放置したまま制度を続けるのか。
Regarding the child allowance program, the government has decided to keep providing 13,000 yen ($157) a month per child--half of the amount the DPJ promised--to households with young children. Does the administration plan to eventually increase the allowance to the promised amount?
子ども手当は、政権公約にうたった額の半分、月１万３千円の給付を続けるが、いずれ満額まで上積みする前提なのか。
Other issues related to the child-allowance initiative need to be addressed, such as whether support should be provided in the form of goods and whether an income cap on eligibility should be introduced.
現物給付に重点を移す道や所得制限導入の是非も論点として残る。
If the futures of these policy measures remain uncertain, the people cannot develop their life plans.
もろもろの政策の行き着く先が見えぬままでは、国民は制度継続を前提に生活設計はできない。
The government should steer its policy agenda in an appropriate direction as soon as possible to prevent any disruption in the people's lives and economic activities.
適切な方向に早くかじを切り直し、国民生活や経済活動が停滞しないようにすべきだ。
That requires the ruling bloc to reconsider its main policy promises ahead of schedule and amend the draft budget flexibly through Diet debate.
それには主要施策の政権公約だけでも前倒しで見直し、国会論戦を通じて予算案を柔軟に修正すべきである。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan should give the public a detailed explanation about the reasons for the changes and the new directions of the policies.
もちろんその際、菅直人首相は修正理由と新たな政策の方向について、国民に丁寧に説明しなければならない。
The opposition parties, for their part, should not refuse debate on such changes without good reason and make their judgments from the viewpoint of public interest.
野党もいたずらに審議を拒むことなく、国民本位で判断してもらいたい。
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